Curbside Find: 1954 Chevrolet Pickup – Out For The Summer

It’s officially summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and I guess it’s only natural the old classics start showing up on a regular basis by the curbside. Either that, or we curbside classic hunters are more inclined to take strolls that catch glimpses of them in higher numbers. Whatever the case may be, this ’54 Advance Design era Chevy pickup found in Vancouver was recently posted by Robadr at the Cohort, looking rather lovely in its shaded spot. A very summery sight.

Clearly, more of a restored classic than a hardworking survivor, but hasn’t this old pickup earned its retirement dues by now? And well, the mismatched Chevy/GMC hubcaps aren’t concours-ready, but at least it keeps it all in the family.

Now, if I’m reading the badge correctly at the higher-res Cohort image, this is a Chevrolet 1300, which is otherwise known as a “3100” south of the Canadian border. Some online sources claim these models were assembled in GM’s old Oshawa plant in Ontario, but information is hard to track down in specifics.

Still, the Chevy/GMC Advance Design trucks have gotten a good deal of love at CC before. Launched in ’47, they were quite a revolution for the segment. By ’54, they got their most significant update since their appearance, with the heavy bullnose treatment –on the Chevys– being something of an acquired taste (some sketches that led to that design, in a previous post HERE). Still, it was the 1950s, and chrome was the thing, so that evolutionary approach was in keeping with the spirit of the times.

In other big news for ’54, a one-piece curved windshield now came with the trucks. A novelty that brought along a revised dashboard, plus updated instruments and steering wheel design. Also, Hydra-Matic became available for the first time in the truck line as a paid option… but if I can still tell my pedals right, this does its shifting the ole’ manual way.

Out back, the round taillights were also a novelty, easier to see (really!) over the previous tiny squares. These ones look like recent replacements, however. As for power, it still came via Chevrolet’s venerable line of inline sixes, though for ’54 now enlarged to a choice of 235 or 261 cubic inches. Considering this one doesn’t seem to be hot-rodded, could there still be a six under the hood?

Summer may be starting, but I still see snow tires out back in this one. So, out for the summer, but ready for the oncoming changing of the seasons? Maybe this one does go out during winter days, after all…

 

Related CC reading:

Curbside Classic: 1951 Chevrolet 3100 “Advanced Design” Pickup – America’s (And My) Favorite Truck – GM’s Greatest Hit No. 4

1954 Chevrolet 3600 Pickup – Placid Advance Design